PUEBLO, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team will look to continue its recent hot play this coming weekend as the ThunderWolves open its 20-game slate of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games with two home contests in Massari Arena.

CSU Pueblo opens its RMAC slate on Friday, Dec. 1 with a 7:30 p.m. contest against Chadron State, before hosting Colorado Christian on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. This weekend's two home games will conclude a season-long six-game homestand for the Pack as they have won its previous four games on the homestand.

The Pack comes into this weekend's first two RMAC games of the 2023-24 season having won four straight games to improve its overall record to 4-2 following wins at home last weekend over Multnomah (68-56) and Oklahoma Panhandle State (100-39) to close out its non-conference schedule.

The win streak began two weeks ago as the Pack collected back-to-back home wins over Alaska-Fairbanks as part of the 39th Annual Al Kaly Shrine Classic. The Pack opened the event with a 73-58 win over the Nanooks and then followed the next day with a 70-44 victory.

This weekend's home games will mark the fifth and sixth home games this season for the Pack as the ThunderWolves have won five straight games at home since ending last season with a home victory over Regis and then winning all four home games this season to date.

In last Sunday's win over Oklahoma Panhandle, which marked the 111th all-time 100 point game in school history, the Pack recorded season highs in scoring (100 points), field goals made (28), 3-pointers made (15), 3-point field goal percentage (46.9 percent), free throws made (29), free throws attempted (35), assists (21), steals (22), points allowed (39) and turnovers forced (35).

ABOUT THE PACK
The Pack enters this weekend's action having three players averaging in double figures on the season as junior guard Daeyon James (Stockbridge, Ga./Seward County CC) leads the way offensively at 16.5 points per game and is also averaging 4.8 rebounds per game and is shooting 46 percent from the field and an RMAC-leading 49.1 percent from the 3-point line. His 26 made treys are the most by an RMAC player and second-most by a Division II player this season. He is averaging an RMAC-best 4.33 treys per game.

In addition to James, senior guard Makiah Morris (San Diego, Calif./San Diego City College) and junior guard Armon Muldrew (Perris, Calif./San Bernardino Valley) are also averaging in double digits on the year. Morris, who was named this week's RMAC Defensive Player of the Week, is second in scoring at 11.7 points per game, but leads the team in rebounding (6.3 rpg), assists (4.3 apg) and steals (2.7) and is shooting 47 percent from the field, 42 percent from the 3-point line and 71 percent at the free throw line and has had the team's lone double-double this season as he scored 15 points and had a career-high 13 rebounds in the season opener at Midwestern State, while Muldrew is averaging 11.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and is shooting 42 percent from downtown and is 10th in the league in three-pointers per game as he averages 2.33 per contest.

Coming into this weekend's action, the Pack continue to be one of the top defensive teams in Division II men's basketball as the Pack leads the RMAC and is ninth nationally in Division II in scoring defense as they are allowing 57.8 points and have held their last four foes under 60 points. In addition, the Pack leads the league and is fifth nationally in field goal percentage defense (35.9 percent) and lead the RMAC and Division II in three-point field goal percentage defense (17.9 percent). Additionally, the Pack leads the RMAC in scoring margin (+16.8), turnover margin (+6.5) and turnovers forced per game (19.5).

Along with being strong at defending the 3-point shot, the Pack are also one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the league as they enter the weekend leading the league in both three-point field goal percentage (41.6 percent) and 3-pointers made per game (11.5). The Pack has made 10 or more treys in a game four times, including a season-high of 15 last time out against Oklahoma Panhandle State. They are 11th nationally in Division II in 3-pointers made per game and 23rd nationally in Division II in 3-point field goal percentage.

Offensively, the Pack are scoring 74.7 points per game and have scored over 70 points in four of six game and is shooting 42 percent from the field and 67 percent from the free throw. They are getting outrebounded by 3.8 boards per game and are averaging 15.3 assists and 2.2 blocks per game.

CSU Pueblo is coached by Matt Hammer, who is in his fifth season as the Pack's men's basketball coach. In his four-plus seasons leading the Pack, Hammer has compiled a 42-66 record and is 28-55 in RMAC games.

ABOUT CHADRON STATE
Chadron State comes into the weekend sporting a 2-3 overall record and the Eagles have lost two of its last three games with the lone victory being an 89-72 win last Tuesday at home against Bethany (Kan.). The Eagles latest loss came last Saturday at Sioux Falls as they fell 84-72. CSU's other losses this season have come against Texas A&M-International (80-78) and Nebraska-Kearney (113-101).

Despite its 2-3 overall record, the Eagles will bring one of the top offensive units in the league to Massari Arena on Friday night as they are averaging an RMAC-best 89.8 points per game and are one of the top rebounding teams in the league as they are second in rebounding at 39.2 boards per game and have an RMAC-best +9.8 rebound margin. The Eagles have scored over 100 points in two of its five games and have scored over 75 points two other times.

Much like the Pack, they are one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the league as they are third in the RMAC in 3-point field goal percentage (37.8 percent) and fourth in the league in made treys per game (8.4). They are also second in the league in field goal shooting at 50 percent and lead the league in assists per game (1.74), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.36) and are fourth in the RMAC in turnovers per game as they average 12.8.

Three Eagles average in double figures offensively with senior guard Bryce Latimer leading the way a he is averaging an RMAC-best 23.2 points per game and is also averaging 3.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game and is shooting 48 percent from the field and 91 percent at the free throw line.

In addition to Latimer, senior forward Josh Robinson is averaging 16.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game and leads the RMAC and is 11th nationally in double-doubles with three on the season. Robinson is shooting 58.2 percent from the field, but has made just three of his 12 free throws.

The third double-digit scorer for the Eagles is junior guard Dalton Peterson, who is averaging 10.8 points per game and is shooting 51 percent from the floor, 49 percent from the 3-point line and is second in the league in made treys per game at 3.2.

Chadron State, who was tabbed to finish fifth in Preseason RMAC Coaches' Poll, is coached by Shane Paben, who is in his fourth season with the Eagles and is sporting a 36-38 overall record. Prior to coaching at Chadron State, Paben spent 11 seasons at the helm of the Bellevue University men's basketball program. In his time with the Bruins, he led the school to 10 consecutive trips to the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Championship appearances and amassed a record of 275-100.

Friday's game with Chadron State marks the first of two meeting this season between the two schools as the Pack plays at Chadron State on Feb. 17. Friday's game will mark the 26th all-time meeting between the two schools with CSU Pueblo holding a 15-10 edge in the series, but the Eagles have won four straight games in the series, including sweeping both games in 2022-23. The last time the two teams played in Pueblo, Chadron held on for an 89-85 overtime win on Feb. 11, 2023.

ABOUT COLORADO CHRISTIAN
Colorado Christian, who plays at New Mexico Highlands on Friday before traveling to Pueblo on Saturday, comes into the weekend having won three straight games to move its record to 3-2 on the year. After opening with losses at St. Edward's (91-85) and on a neutral court to Dallas Baptist (114-75), the Cougars have reeled off three straight wins, including collecting a 94-61 win last Saturday over Oklahoma Panhandle State. The Cougars other wins have come at home against Barclay (107-98) and Williams Baptist (84-69).

Much like Chadron on Friday night, the Cougars will bring a high powered offense to Massari Arena on Saturday as CCU is second in the league in scoring as they are averaging 89.0 points per game and have taken the third-most three-point shot attempts in the league as they average 27.3 attempts per game and are making 9.6 of them, which is third-best in the league. The Cougars have scored 80 or more points in five games, including tallying 90 or more points in two games.

Another strength for the Cougars this season are their ability to force turnovers as they are third in the league in that category as they are forcing 18.4 turnovers per game and are fourth in the league in steals as they average 9.4 per game. In addition, they are also fifth in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game as they have collected 56 in five games and are averaging 11.2 offensive boards per game.

Defensively, though, CCU is allowing 86.6 points per game and their foes are shooting 50 percent from the field and 41 percent from the 3-point line. On offense, the Cougars are shooting 50 percent from the field, 36 percent from the 3-point line and 70 percent at the free throw line.

Four CCU players are averaging in double figures offensively with junior guard Noah Kon leading the way as he averages 17.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and is shooting 58 percent from the field, 67 percent from the 3-point line, but just 54 percent (13-for-24) from the free throw line.

In addition to Kon, sophomore guard Michael Bell, Jr. is the second double-digit scorer as he is averaging 11.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game and is shooting 43 percent from the field, 36 percent from the 3-point line and 82 percent at the line, while senior guard Brenden Patrick is averaging 10.8 points and 3.6 assists per game and is shooting 55 percent from the floor and 86 percent at the line and junior guard Shaylen Woodberry is averaging 10.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and is shooting 50 percent from the field and 58 percent from downtown.

Colorado Christian, who was tabbed to finish 13th in the Preseason RMAC Coaches' Poll as they earned 44 points, is coached by Liam Simmons. Simmons is in his fourth season with the Cougars and has compiled a 25-55 overall record.

Saturday's game marks the first of two meetings this season between the two schools as the Pack will play at CCU on Feb. 16. The Pack holds a 17-10 all-time edge in the series and have won eight straight games against the Cougars, including sweeping both meetings last season. In the team's most recent meeting on Feb. 10, 2023, in Pueblo, the Pack earned a 77-58 victory over the Cougars.

UP NEXT
Following this weekend's games with Chadron State and CCU, the Pack will hit the road for the first time in league play next weekend (Dec. 8-9). The Pack will open the road trip with a 7:30 p.m. game on Friday, Dec. 8 in Alamosa, Colo., against Adams State, before traveling to Durango, Colo., for a 6 p.m. contest on Saturday, Dec. 9 against Fort Lewis, who was tabbed to finish second in the Preseason RMAC Coaches' Poll.